On February 9th, 2026, the CCLA sent its written submission on Quebec’s Bill 9 to the Committee on Relations with Citizens.
Through yet another invocation of the Notwithstanding Clauses, Quebec’s Bill 9:
– extends the current ban on the wearing of religious symbols to new professions;
– increases the applicable requirements to be entitled to some reasonable accommodations; and
– restricts religious expression and demonstrations in public spaces.
Rather than truly protecting the secular nature of the state, Bill 9 directly undermines it by targeting and marginalizing members of certain religious groups such as Muslim women, as well as Sikh and Jewish individuals, because of their religion.
Those affected by Bill 9 will have to choose between their faith and their studies or profession—a dilemma that has no place in a democracy.
Read CCLA’s brief on Bill 9 here (French only).
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
English (Canada) 
Français du Canada